| Apr. 24 SAT. |
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| Yell-Yell |
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| ASSE |
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From April 8, visitors arriving in Hiroshima by train were able to sample the rebuilt Hiroshima Station building. Called ASSE, as in ASSEmbly, the newly reconstructed building boasts an impressive array of shops and restaurants, which surround the 1st floor booking hall and concourse of JR Hiroshima Station. The reaction of local residents on the opening day was generally favourable. On April 14 saw the opening of the underground concourse which connects the station building with the new Yell-Yell A Kan. The construction of this building was also completed on the same day and some 900 guests took part in a party to mark the occasion. The transformation of the main gateway to Hiroshima City will be completed with the opening of the 'B' Block complex in 2003 and the opening of the rebuilt Ekimae Ohashi.
One of the main features of the new Yell-Yell A Kan is the Ekimae Branch of Fukuya, a major department store chain with headquarters in Hiroshima. Fukuya's main store is in Hatchobori, and is situated right opposite Tenmaya, a major competitor. Tenmaya recently announced plans to revamp its flagship store and a spokesman admitted that one reason for the \200 million facelift is to head off the competition offered by Asse and Yell-Yell. The main focus of the facelift is to cater for a wider group of young female customers. Parts of the store were revamped in 1997 with 'young career' women as the target. These are working women around 25 years of age. The present reconstruction, which will begin early next month and will last till the end of August, will widen the target to include 'pure young' customers, young women aged between 15 and 20.
The deer on the island of Miyajima are commonly known as 'Messengers of the Gods', but they are likely to become thinner if a recent campaign of Miyajima-cho has any effect. The town recently conducted a survey among 2,246 residents over junior high school age, of whom about 50% replied to the survey.
Opinions about the deer are mixed. Some saw the deer as historic symbols and tourist attractions, while others saw them as rubbish bins on four legs. One result of the survey is the No Esa Undo (No Food Campaign), according to which tourists, residents (and also souvenir shops) are to be encouraged to stop giving food to the island's 300 cervid residents in the centre of the town. During the present fiscal year, the town office will hold educational seminars for residents, tour guides and other interested groups.
梅絵 Ume-e (meaning 'plum pictures') is a coffee shop in Hashimoto-cho. A distinctive feature of the Ume-e is the antique ambiance and the wide range of pottery from which to drink one's coffee. There are 100 cups, for example. Popular items on the menu are goma-dofu (tofu with sesame, costing \400) served with coffee (\450), or tofu teramisu (\350), a mixture of tofu, cream and cocoa. The menu has seven types of beverages and 13 different dishes, with various set menus offered on weekdays. Tel. (082) 227-0204. |
「ＡＳＳＥとエールエール」
４月８日から、電車で広島駅に到着した人は、改装された広島駅ビルを見ることができた。Assemblyつまり、「人の集まり」という意味のＡＳＳＥと名付けられたこの真新しいビルは、お店やレストランが自慢だ。ＪＲ広島駅の１階の切符窓口、コンコースをずらりと囲んでいる。オープン当日の地元の人たちの反応おおむね良かった。４月14日には駅ビルとエールエールＡ館を結ぶ地下コンコースがオープンした。同じ日にエールエールＡ館も完成し、900人あまりの来賓が記念パーティーに出席した。広島市の玄関口の再開発は、2003年のＢブロック完成と駅前大橋の改良工事終了によって完了する。
「・・・対八丁堀？」
エールエールＡ館の注目のひとつが、広島に拠点を置く、大手デパート福屋の駅前支店である。福屋の本店は八丁堀にあり、競争相手の天満屋の向い側に立っている。先日、天満屋は八丁堀店の改装計画を発表し、広報担当者は、２億円かけてのモデルチェンジはＡＳＳＥやエールエールとの競争をしのぐためと認めた。モデルチェンジの焦点は、幅広い層の若い女性客の需要にこたえるためである。1997年に、若いキャリア女性をターゲットに一部店鋪を改装した。そのときのターゲットは、25歳前後の働く女性であった。来月上旬から８月末にかけての今回の改装は、15歳から20歳までと、「本当に若い」女性客を含め、ターゲットを広げている。
「空腹の使い？」
宮島のシカは「神の使い」として、よく知られているが、宮島町が始めたキャンペーンが功を奏すれば、シカたちが痩せていきそうだ。宮島町はこのほど中学生以上の住民2,246人に対して調査を行い、約半数の回答を得た。
シカをめぐる意見はさまざま。シカを歴史的象徴であり、観光名物と見る人もいれば、４本足のゴミ箱と見る人もいる。この調査の結果、「ノーエサ運動」つまり、観光客や、みやげ物販売店を含む住民は町の中心部に住む300頭のシカにえさを与えないようにする運動が行われることとなった。本年度から、町は住民、ツアーガイド、その他関係団体に対しセミナーを開き、呼び掛ける予定だ。
